Boat anchor



1959 R. K. DONALDSON- 2,894,474

BOAT ANCHOR Filed March 20, 1956 I NV EN TOR.

' Ralph Keller Donaldson ATTD-RNEYS United States Patent BOAT ANCHOR Ralph Keller Donaldson, Houston, Tex.

Application March 20, 1956, Serial No. 572,679

1 Claim. (Cl. 114-208) This invention relates to an anchor, and more particularly to an anchor for a boat.

The object of the invention is to provide an anchor which can be readily released from any object with which it may become entangled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat anchor which includes a pair of flukes which are secured to a stock, the stock being pivotally mounted in a sleeve which has a shank connected thereto, and the shank has a ring arranged in slidable engagement therewith, so that by moving the ring into different positions along the shank, the anchor can be retrieved in the event it becomes accidentally entangled with objects on the bottom of the lake, sea, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boat anchor which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a perspective View of the boat anchor, constructed according to the present invention, and illustrating a log or other object which may become entangled in the anchor;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the boat anchor;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the anchor;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, illustrating the sleeve and a portion of the stock on which the sleeve is mounted;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4-.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates the anchor of the present invention which includes a cylindrical stock 11, and extending from the stock 11 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as for example, by means of welding, is a pair of similar flukes 12. The flukes 12 lie in the same plane, and each of the flukes 12 includes an outer edge 13, and inner edge 14, and an inclined edge 15. The edges 15 and 13 cooperate or coact to define a pointed outer end 16 .on each of the flukes 12.

Mounted on the stock 11 intermediate its ends is a collar or sleeve 17, and the stock 11 is rotatably arranged in the sleeve 17. End portions of the sleeve 17 are cut away, as at 18, so as to define on the ends of the sleeve 17 stop shoulders 19. The shoulders 19 are adapted to selectively engage portions of the flukes 12, so as to limit rotary pivoting movement of the flukes 12 and stock 11.

There is further provided a shank which is indicated generally by the numeral 20, and the shank 20 includes a pair of spaced parallel, first portions 21 which are interconnected together by a curved portion 22, Figure 1. Extending outwardly and angularly from each of the first portions 21 is a second portion 23, and each of the second portions 23 terminates in an outwardly extending or 2 ,894,474 Patented July 14, 1959 positioned curved portion 24. The curved portion 24 terminates in fourth portions 25, and ends of the portions 25 are secured to the outer'surface of the sleeve 17 in any suitable manner, as for example, by welding.

A ring 26 slidably engages the shank 20, and a cable 27 is connected to the ring 26. The numeral 28 designates a log or other objects with which the anchor 10 may become entangled, Figure 1.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an anchor which can be readily released from an object to which it may become entangled, as for example, the log or otherobject 28. In use, assuming that the cable 27 and ring 26 are in the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, so that the shank 20 and the pointed ends 16 of the flukes 12 are on opposite sides of the log 28, it will be noted that the anchor 10 is. caught by the object 28. Thus, to release the anchor, it is only necessary to move the cable 27 and ring 26 from the dotted line position shown in Figure l to the solid line position in Figure 1, so that by pulling up on the cable 27 the anchor 10 can be readily released from the log 28. The ring 26 is slidably mounted on the shank 20, so that it can readily shift therealong so as to permit the anchor to be freed. The pivotal arrangement of the stock 11 in the sleeve 17 insures that the anchor can be worked loose from the object 28.

In Figure 1, the dotted line for the cable 27 and ring 26 indicate the normal position of the rope 27, while in Figure 1 the solid line position for the rope 27 and ring 26 indicates the position of these parts when the anchor is to be removed, as when it is caught on an object. The link or ring 26 slides back and forth, so that the anchor can be quickly and easily released from rocks, debris, or the like. The ends of the portion 25 may be secured to the sleeve 17 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding. The anchor is properly balanced and the pointed ends of the flukes 12 insure that the anchor will not accidentally work loose from its proper position. Furthermore, the present invention provides a three-point contact with the bottom of a lake or other bodies of water, and the flukes have their points of contact spaced outwardly from the shank. This outward spacing of the points of contact of the flukes is obtained by the parallel outer edges 13 of the flukes, and the outwardly inclined inner edges 15 thereof. By reason of this construction of the flukes 12, the anchor is stable and always lands on the bottom with the flukes in position for digging into the bottom. Thus, the flukes will be properly aligned for digging into the bottom of the lake or the like. The cut-outs 18 in the ends of the sleeve 17 define the stop shoulders 19 so as to limit the movement of the flukes. By providing such stops, the simiplified construction is provided. Also, the portions 24 of the shank 20 are arranged in a straight line with respect to the stock 11, and the portions 24 are spaced beyond the stock 11, so that upon picking up the anchor, the pull is in substantially a direct line with the flukes and is rearwardly thereof. Furthermore, the pair of flukes are mounted on a single stock 11 which extends through the tube or casing 17, so as to provide a simplified construction. The anchor of the present invention is constnucted so that the anchor can be released with the ring 26 in any of the several positions shown in Figures 1 and 3, due to the curved portion 24. As shown in Figure 3, the anchor is releasable in either position, making it unnecessary to reset as is the case with other anchors.

I claim:

In a boat anchor, a stock, a pair of flukes secured at their rear edges to said stock and extending from said stock at right angles thereto, said flukes being of similar construction and being coplanar, and said flukes each ineluding first straight outer side edges, a second inner edge terminating in an inclined third edge, said first and third edges coacting to define a pointed end on the outer portion of said fiukes, a sleeve rotatably engaging said stock intermediate the ends of said stock, said sleeve being provided with a pair of spaced apart cutouts defining stop shoulders for engaging and limiting pivotal movement of said flukes, a shank including a first pair of portions extending in spaced apart relation with respect to each other and said first portions being interconnected together by an arcuate section, second straight portions extending outwardly and angularly from said first portions, each of said second portions terminating in a third curved portion, and a fourth straight portion extending 4 from each of said third portions, said fourth portions secured to said sleeve, a ring slidably connected to said shank, and a cable connected to said ring, said fourth portions being arranged in divergent relation With respect to each other, and said first portions being arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,390 Danforth Nov. 27, 1951 2,612,131 Benedict Sept. 30, 1952 2,722,191 Johnson Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,096,830 France June 26, 1953 

